Letters to the Editor - Feb. 1, 2014

Published: Friday, January 31, 2014 at 7:25 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 31, 2014 at 7:25 p.m.

Misdirecting the blame

Sunday's "60 Minutes" had a gripping segment on the failure of our health care system in dealing with mental illness. A women's support group related the experiences of their loved ones being denied care, often with tragic consequences. Time and again, they blamed insurance companies for denying coverage.

The majority of Americans get their health insurance from their employers, who purchase plans in the for-profit private enterprise system we Americans hold sacred.

Employers buy coverage that aligns with their profit objectives or budgetary constraints. Some plans are rich in benefits, but most … not so much.

People are quick to blame the insurance company when coverage is denied. This is shooting the messenger.

Usually, people are getting what they or their employer paid for. The message is that whenever the profit motive of employers and insurance carriers drive the design and administration of health care benefits, patients often don't get what they really need.

The U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world, delivering mediocre results.

Many parts are an unfettered monopoly with no competition or pricing constraints. Profit is king, not the patient.

We need a universal, single-payer system under which policy is determined by "we the people," and not by a private enterprise.

When this happens, we will be the last first-world country to finally figure this out.

Fred Campau, Wilmington

Media need to question

Chutzpah is alive and well. Just finished watching HBO's "Herblock; The black and the white."

I've always loved Herb Block's cartoons, even when I did not agree with them, and the program was well put together.

But to sit there and listen to the current crop of "journalists" opine on how important Block's role was in challenging politicians of the times – while they have spent the past five-plus years bowing at the altar of Obama – was sickening.

The role of the press was supposed to be as a guardian, not as a cheering section.

When the president does something right, they should applaud. but to bend their knee 24/7 is not fulfilling their role in a democracy and does no one any favors.

Harriet Rood, Wilmington

Roads just for cars

I had written previously about the need for a new interstate system for our smaller, weaker, plastic-finished cars and SUVs, leaving the old roads to the truckers. Every picture about accidents during our snowstorm shows these giant trucks right in the middle of many accidents – and, in fact – causing many.

The jobs created by designing and building these new roads will be many, and last for years.

The newer roads for our lighter cars would keep more people alive, since they would not be struggling for a piece of the Roadway alongside these mammoth trucks.

Give us a break and make jobs, all while saving lives.

John Battaglia, Southport

Not shocked by N.J. scandal

Spending early childhood in New Jersey – and having relatives who lived there – it is no surprise to me that corruption resides there.

<p class="bold allcaps">Misdirecting the blame</p>
<p>Sunday's "60 Minutes" had a gripping segment on the failure of our health care system in dealing with mental illness. A women's support group related the experiences of their loved ones being denied care, often with tragic consequences. Time and again, they blamed insurance companies for denying coverage.</p><p>The majority of Americans get their health insurance from their employers, who purchase plans in the for-profit private enterprise system we Americans hold sacred. </p><p>Employers buy coverage that aligns with their profit objectives or budgetary constraints. Some plans are rich in benefits, but most … not so much.</p><p>People are quick to blame the insurance company when coverage is denied. This is shooting the messenger. </p><p>Usually, people are getting what they or their employer paid for. The message is that whenever the profit motive of employers and insurance carriers drive the design and administration of health care benefits, patients often don't get what they really need.</p><p>The U.S. health care system is the most expensive in the world, delivering mediocre results. </p><p>Many parts are an unfettered monopoly with no competition or pricing constraints. Profit is king, not the patient.</p><p>We need a universal, single-payer system under which policy is determined by "we the people," and not by a private enterprise. </p><p>When this happens, we will be the last first-world country to finally figure this out.</p><p><i></p><p>Fred Campau, Wilmington</i></p><h3>Media need to question</h3>
<p>Chutzpah is alive and well. Just finished watching HBO's "Herblock; The black and the white."</p><p>I've always loved Herb Block's cartoons, even when I did not agree with them, and the program was well put together. </p><p>But to sit there and listen to the current crop of "journalists" opine on how important Block's role was in challenging politicians of the times – while they have spent the past five-plus years bowing at the altar of Obama – was sickening. </p><p>The role of the press was supposed to be as a guardian, not as a cheering section. </p><p>When the president does something right, they should applaud. but to bend their knee 24/7 is not fulfilling their role in a democracy and does no one any favors. </p><p><i></p><p>Harriet Rood, Wilmington</i></p><h3>Roads just for cars</h3>
<p>I had written previously about the need for a new interstate system for our smaller, weaker, plastic-finished cars and SUVs, leaving the old roads to the truckers. Every picture about accidents during our snowstorm shows these giant trucks right in the middle of many accidents – and, in fact – causing many.</p><p>The jobs created by designing and building these new roads will be many, and last for years. </p><p>The newer roads for our lighter cars would keep more people alive, since they would not be struggling for a piece of the Roadway alongside these mammoth trucks.</p><p>Give us a break and make jobs, all while saving lives.</p><p><i></p><p>John Battaglia, Southport</i></p><h3>Not shocked by N.J. scandal</h3>
<p>Spending early childhood in New Jersey – and having relatives who lived there – it is no surprise to me that corruption resides there.</p><p>Read Helene Stapinski's "Five Finger Discount." It's funny, but sad, for the many hardworking, law-abiding residents.</p><p><i></p><p>Jack Redmond, Boiling Spring Lakes</i></p>